Umbrella-support.



No. 83,5l3. Patented Oct. l, 1901.

.|. H. SPRAGUE.

V UMBRELLA SUPPORT.

(Application fllecl 1560. 15, 1900A (No Modal.)

Illll un n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. SPRAGUE, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

UMBRELLA-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 683,513, dated October 1, 1901. Application filed December 15. 1900. Serial No. 40,011. (No modal.)

T0 au whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented a new and nseful Canopy-Support for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle attachments for snpportin g canopies, the object being to provide a simple, convenient, and ornamental canopy-support specially adapted for use on wagons, buggies, automobiles, and other vehiclcs and adapted to be quickly and readily fitted and applied to such vehicle and to be quickly detacned therefrom, so that when not connected With the vehicle the latter will be free from unsightlyirons and other fittings Which are nsually incident to the use of devices of the character referred to.

In applying the improved devoe t0 a buggy or other vehicle it is only necessary to use a single screw or fastening device, and in detaching the canopy and its support it is only necessary to remove said screw. By the construction hereinafter described a firm connection is obtained between the standard and the body of the vehicle, and the canopyitself may be adjusted to any desired angle of inclination for the purpose of warding off the rays of the sun or adj usted to a straight or horizontal position, so as to protect the occupants of the vehicle from rain or snow.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will be fully pointed out in the course of the ensuing description.

The invention consists in certain novel featurcs and details of construction and arrangement cf parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the clairns.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view showing the improved device applied to a buggy, the canopy being tilted rearwardly. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing the canopy-support and the means for connecting the supporting-standard to the vehicle. Fig. 3 is a detail perspectiveview of the lower end of the standard. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the base-plate. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the clip which holds the standard at an intermediate point, said view showing also a section of the standard and the attaching-plate disconnected therefrom. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the bail-andsocket joint for the canopy-staff. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the same. Fig. 8 is a detail vertical cross-section throngh the ball-and-socket members.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The improved canopysupport contemplated in thisinvention comprises,essentially, a standard 1,of sufficient height to reach to the floor of the vehicle and support the canopy 2 at an elevation which will clear the heads of the occupants of the vehicle and which will also enable the canopy to be tilted to either side or toward the front and back without interference.

In carrying out the present invention the lower extremity of the standard is provided with a reduced shank 3 of a size adapting it to pass through the opening 4 of the baseplate 5, provided with suitable openings 6 to receive screws or other fastening devices, Wherewith said plate is secured to the fi0or of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 2. The shank 3 is provided with a laterally-projecting nib or key 7 at a slight distance below the shoulder 8, formed by reducing the standard to form the shank 3, and a baffer in the form of a spring-washer 9 encircles the shank 3 and bears against the shoulder 8. Said washer is preferably'formed cf sonne snch material as rubber or leather. The opening 4in the plate 5 bas a radial offset 10, adapting the nib or projection 7 to pass through the plate. After the nib 7 has passed through the opening of the plate by turning the standard on its longitudinal axis said nib or projection 7 is carried beneath the plate 5, and the standard is thus securely anchored to the floor of the vehicle. The standard may be detached by simply reversing the operation j ust described. The washer 9, which is interposed between the shoulder 8 of the standard and the plate 5, serves to hold the projection 7 tightly against the bottom of the plate 5 and prevents any rattling of the parts. By reason of the fact that the rubber washer is interposed betweei1 the shoulder 8 and the nib or key 7 it is -1etained in place at all times, said nib or IOO key thus performing the double fnnction et holding the rubber Washer on and at the same time locking the standard in place.

11 designates an attaching-plate, which for convenience is shown as permanently secnred to the lazy-haek 12 of a buggy. It will, however, be observed that said.attachingplate may be secnred to the rear portion of the scat-rail 13 or to the scat itself, or, in fact, to any convenient part of the vehicle-body, so long as it is connected With the vehiclebody at a point above the fioor, where it will serve as an efficient brace for the standard. A clip 14 in the form of a ring embraces the standard and is split at one side and provided With parallel cars 15, adapted to receive a clamping-bolt 16, by means of which the clip may be secnrely fastened upon the standard. The clip is fnrther provided With a lateral extension 17, provided on its under side with parallel fianges 18, spaced apart snficiently to receive the attaching-plate 11 between the same, the clip beingsecured to the attachingplate 11 by means of the screw 19 or other snitable fasteningdevice passing through openings in the clip and plate, as clearly shown in the drawings. In adjusting the standard to the vehicle the attaching-plate is first secnred to the vehicle, after which the clip 14 is loosened by unscrewing the bolt 16 and moved longitndinally up or down on the standard until the said clip is bronght to the proper elevation to be connected with the attaching-platc by means of the screw 19. The clip is then fastened and securely clamped npon the standard by tigh.tening the boit 16. In order to prevent the standard from tnrning, the said standard is provided with a longitudinal groove or keyway 20, and the clip 14 is provided with a small projection or key 21, which engages said groove, thereby providing an interlocked engagement between the standard and the clip which will render it impossible for the standard to turn accdentally. The upper end of the standard is bent at substantially right angles to form au overhanging portion 22, and upon the end of said overhanging portion is secnred a socket 23, comprising a stationary or fixed member 24 and a hinged and detachable member 25. The fixed member comprises a sleeve 26, which fits upon the end of the overhanging portion of the standard and is permanently secured there on. The extremity of the fixed member 24 is provided with an aperture 27 to receive a cnrved lip or hook 28 on the outer extremity of the detachable socket member, thus providing at once a hinged and a detachable connection between the two socket members. The stationary member 24 is out away or recessed, as at 29, so as to receive the inner end portion 30 of the detachable member, and said inner end is provided with a longitudinal open slot 31 for the passage of the threaded shank of a screw or bolt 32, upon which is threaded a clamp 33, shown in the form et a hand-wheel, by means of which the two portions of the socket may be drawn closer together for the pnrpose of secnrely holding the ball 34 at the lower end of the canopy-staff 35. Each of the sooket members 24 and 25 is enlarged near its outer end to form a hollow hemispherical portion, which when the two sections approach eaeh other forms a cnp-shaped socket in which the ball member 34 of the joint is received and clamped. The bail is provided with an annnlar groove 35, extending entrely aronnd the same and adapted to-interlock With a series of keys or projections 36, formed integrally with the inner surface of the socket members. \Vhen the parts are so interlocked, the canopy-staff is held in a perfectly upright position and cannot tiltin any direction. By loosening the clamp 33, however, the ball 34 is snfiiciently released to enable the canopy-staff to be inclined or tilted in any desired direction, and it may be so held When adjnsted by tightening the clamping device 33. The socket members 24 and 25 are also notched, as shown at 37, to receive the reduced neck 38, which lies between the ball 34 and the ferrnle 39, which surronnds the staff 35 of the canopy. The notches 37 aidin determining whether the canopy is tilted exactly to one side or the other or to the front or rear. The ferrnle 39 and stafi 35 are longitudinally recessed to receive the catch 40, which engages the runner of the canopy and holds the same distended.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, cheap, and efiective canopy-support the parts of which are adjustable, so as to enable the occupants of thevehicle to be shaded from the rays of the son, no matter what the angle of the latter may be, and also protected from rain, snow, &c. The work of tilting the canopy reqnires but a moment, and the stafi of the canopy may be securely and firmly clamped in any position to which t is adjusted, so that it will not become displaced by the jolting of the vehicle npon which it is placed. The device is adapted for all kinds of open wagons, runabouts, buggies, automobiles, &c., and may be detached in a moment when not reqnired for use.

From the foregoing it is thonght that the construction,operation,and many advantages of the herein-described canopysupport will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without fnrther description, and t will be understood that varions changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departinar from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A canopy-snpport for vehicles comprising a standard having its lower end reduced to form a shank with a shonlder at its jnnc tien With the shank, a IateraHy-pmjectng nib or key on said shank, a compressible washer encircling said shank above the nib or key and betwecn it and the shou1der, whereby the wasner is held from coming off, and a base-plate adapted to be secured to the vehicle and provided With an opening t0 receve the shank, and allow for the passage of the nib or key without turning the Standard, the said base-plate hein g received and held between the washer and the nib or key, substantialiy as describcd.

2. A canopysuppcrt for vehiclcs comprising a standard, means for detaohably connecting the lower extremity of said standard to the vehicle-body, an attaching-plate adapted to be secured to the vehicle-seat, a clip embraeng the standard and provided With flanges t0 embraee and interlock with the attaching-plate, and a fastening device for fixedly connecting the attaching-plate and clip and prevcnting the Standard fron1 moving upward, substantaIly as described.

3. A canopy-snpport for vehcles comprising a standard, means for detachably conneoting the lower end of said standard with the vehicle-body, an attachingplate adaptcd to be secnred to the vehicle-seat, a clip embraoing the standard and provided With an extension, parallel flanges depending from said extension and adapted to embraee thc attachng-plate, and a scrcw for detachably connecting the clip to the attaching-plate, substantially as described.

4. A can0py-snpp0rt for vehic1es comprising a standard having a groove in its onter wall, means for detaohably connecting the lower end of said standard with the vehiclebody, an attachingplate adapted to be secured to the vehicle-seat, and a normal1ystationary clip capable of longitudinal adjustment upon the standard, said clip ennbraoing the standard and having a projection which engages the longitudinal groove in the standard, and means for dctaehably connectin g the clip and attachingplate, snbstantially as described.

5. A canopy-support for vehicles comprising a standard, a sectional clamping socketpiece monnted thereon, a canopy-scafi having a ball at its lower end 'fitting within the soekct and provided With a cirenmferential groove, and one or more lugs or projections within the s0cketpiece adapted to interlock with the groove in the ball, substantial1y as described.

6. A canopy-support for vehicles comprisin g a standard, a socketpece connected with the standard, a canopy-stafi: haVing a ball fitted into the s0cket, the ball and socket being provided with interloeking rigid projections and recesses within said baII-and-soeket joint, snbstantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A canopy-supp0rt for vehicles, comprising a standard, a ball-soekct thereon having a hingcd member, a canopy-staffi having a ball t0 fit into the sooket, the ball and socket being provided With rigid interl0eking clements, and a clamping device acting t0 force the hinged member of the socket into engagement With the ball and thereby bring the rigid interloeking elements of the ball and socket int0 engagement With eaoh other.

In testimony that I daim the foregong as my own I have heret0 affixed 1ny signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. SPRAGUE.

VVtnesses:

J. O. WHITE, C. B. GARDINER. 

